38th America’s Cup: One year out

When Regatta Director Iain Murray, himself an America’s Cup finalist in 1987, begins the starting sequence for the start of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Match on July 10th 2027, it’s the moment when the world stops as all the planning, designing and campaigning comes to a compelling crescendo. All we know for sure is that two boats will be on the starting line and one of them will be the Defender – Emirates Team New Zealand.

Who the other will be, will be decided after a grueling Louis Vuitton Cup slated to run from the middle of May through to the end of June/early July. Whoever that is, will have fought unbelievably hard to earn the right to challenge for the oldest continually contested trophy in the world. By then, the America’s Cup will be celebrating 176 years of competition. History will be made on the Bay of Naples.

With one year to go to the start of the Match, the clock is ticking down relentlessly. The time will disappear fast. Decisions made in the computer months ago will have to be locked in and build-schedules finalized. One year sounds like a long time, in the America’s Cup, it is the blink of an eye. Nathan Outteridge, skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand is already laser focused having started the Kiwi summer training camp saying: “We are very excited, it’s one year until the battle begins.”

Grant Dalton, the CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand who are going for a completely unprecedented in the long history of the America’s Cup four-in-a-row, knows what’s coming and just how critical this coming period is: “When we won in Barcelona, it was almost inconceivable to be able to start thinking about actually defending again. And here we are, one year to go before the next event, and it’ll go quickly. Really, there’s probably any team at this stage that can do well, probably only a few that can win it, but it will be defined 100% in the next year. What you do in this year is the critical time of whether you’re going to win or lose.”

Dalton, speaking in Naples, continued: “The critical thing of this year is, it’s a bit of a cliché, but we’ve got to get faster. And all teams think like that. But you have to be quite pragmatic. It’s easy to try and do too many things. It’s too late for that now. You have to be very focused on knots on the table, that’s the way we think about it. So, everything we do now will be very deliberate. All the kind of side projects are over, but now we have to be on a trajectory of things that are ultimately going to make us faster.”

Whilst much attention will be paid to the on-water development, behind the scenes the America’s Cup Event organizers are hard at work planning and preparing for what is expected to be the most viewed, and almost certainly the most visited America’s Cup in history. Fans are expected to flock from around the world to see this iconic event being held in Italy for the very first time. From Race Villages in Naples and Bagnoli, to Hospitality and interactive attractions for fans, the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples is set to be a sensation with passionate fans, particularly Italian, cheering on their home team Luna Rossa like nothing ever seen before.

The Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, knows what is coming and is excited, saying: “We are ready for the competition, and it is a big attention in our city. The city is very happy to host this competition, and the people are waiting for the competition of the America’s Cup.”

Details: https://www.americascup.com/

Defender New Zealand and Challenger of Record from Great Britain confirmed the Protocol for the 38th America’s Cup on August 12, 2025. The close of the initial entry period was October 31, 2025, with late entries considered up to March 31, 2026.

Current entrants:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) – Defender
• Athena Racing (GBR) – Challenger of Record
• Luna Rossa (ITA) – Challenger
• Tudor Team Alinghi (SUI) – Challenger
• La Roche-Posay Racing Team (FRA) – Challenger
• American Racing Challenger Team USA (USA) – Challenger
• Team Australia (AUS) – Challenger

After the 2024 event, Barcelona, Spain declined hosting another edition, with the venue moved to Naples, Italy. Challenger racing begins in the spring before the 38th Match on July 10-18, 2027.

Preliminary Regattas:*
May 22-24, 2026 – Cagliari, Italy
September 24-27 – Naples, Italy

* The Protocol noted how there would be as many Preliminary Regattas as possible, with the intent to have three during 2026 and one possibly in early 2027, and a final event at the Match Venue immediately prior to the challenger series. Only two have been thus far revealed.